Written by

Joey Chandler

News Journal

Almost three decades have passed since the introduction of the 3-point line at the high school level, and its impact on the game has been undeniable.

The arc brought more offensive diversity, an overhaul in strategy at both ends of the floor.

In 1987 Ohio’s high school basketball scene was forever changed by the arc’s addition, just one year after it was adopted at the collegiate level.

Ohio High School Athletic Association Assistant Commissioner Jerry Snodgrass was coaching at Findlay High School when the change took place, and he remembers it well.

“At the time, there was significant ‘fear’ among coaches that skill levels would decrease and shooting percentages would decrease so much because players would look where they were at on the court before shooting,” Snodgrass said. “None of that really ever came to be. There was significant anticipation about its inception. Nearly everyone at the time (coaches) actually felt it was going to be good for the game.

“Initially, coaches looked at how offenses were structured that would provide an attempt from 2 or from 3, but I feel the game itself has developed to the point where an offense is an offense. You work for an inside shot, or you work for an outside shot. What it has added is a coaching dimension that allowed for a great deal of creativity to develop ‘quick hitters’ that would get you a 3. This is especially true and used at the ends of games when a team is behind.”

Wynford boys basketball coach Steve Mohr was the head coach at Shelby during the 3-point line’s introduction, and said the shot was met with mixed reaction among the coaching community. Some coaches, he said, were strongly against it.

“Initially, the fans were far more excited about the change than were coaches,” Mohr said. “You have to understand that prior to the 3-point shot that most coaches’ offensive philosophy was predicated around getting the highest percentage shot. That whole philosophy was challenged and put to the test now that one could get 3 points from 19’-9”.

“In reality, a 33 percent 3-point shooter was just as effective as a 50 percent 2-point shooter. It took awhile for coaches to adapt to that statistical reality.”

Dayton Northridge boys basketball coach and former Piketon coach Jeff Lisath was an assistant at Portsmouth in ’87, and witnessed how quickly some coaching philosophies changed during the trey’s infancy.

“It was different as we tried to discourage kids from running to the 3-point line every time down the court,” Lisath said. “Then of course it changed once we saw how our opponents were starting to benefit from it.”

Mohr noted it also forced changes on the defensive end, stretching the floor and creating gaps through the lane in the process.

“It gave a place to that kid who could shoot the 3,” Mohr said.

Shooting from behind the arc has become its own art form, and many players have fallen in love with the 3 from an early age, like Sparta Highland graduate J.T. Hoyng, who was an integral part of the Scots’ 1998 Division III state championship team.

“I believe the thing that drew me the most to the 3-point shot was the impact it could make in a game, and for me personally it was a great to compete against more athletic opponents,” the lanky Hoyng said. “The game has become so physical and athletic that if not for the 3 it would have made shooters like myself not nearly as effective or dangerous on offense.”

Hoyng still owns the state record for most 3s in a game (16) and most in a single season (122). Knocking down 3s was the backbone of the Scots’ 27-1 campaign.

“It is hard to imagine playing without the 3-point line because my generation grew up with the line,” Hoyng said. “I would definitely think we would have had to tweak the way we played, because the 3-point shot was an integral part of our offense.”

Lisath was a star player on Portsmouth’s 1978 state championship team, and known for his outside shot — albeit before the line. He was also an assistant coach on the Trojans’ 1988 state title team, and was part of Piketon’s run to the Final Four during the 2009 season. That squad was boosted by talented perimeter shooters.

“(as a player) Most of my points in the state championship game came from 3-point range, I believe our team would’ve been very dominant if we had the 3-point line,” Lisath said. “(But in 1988) we had several skilled athletes that thrived on transition baskets, and the 3-point shot was a non-factor offensively for us in the state tournament. We defended it so well during the ‘88 state championship run, that it became a non-factor.”

Both Snodgrass and Hoyng noted the energy created by a three, and the weapon it can become in rallying from a deficit.

“That skill level is appreciated by fans in general, regardless of which team they play for,” Snodgrass said. “Shooting is still the best form of art the game has to offer, and doing so behind a line is all the better.”